As a pair of Texas quarterbacking prodigies, Drew Brees has longed admired Robert Griffin III from afar. The two got an up-close meeting seven months before they'd eventually open the 2012 season against each other.

On that February day in Indianapolis, Brees already was trailing the Heisman Trophy- winning Griffin.

Brees, though, as New Orleans Saints fans and many observers around the NFL come to know, was down but far from out.

Time was running out, and it appeared Griffin was readying for his first big post-collegiate victory.

But with Brees at the controls and NFL players and entertainment superstars mingling about, Brees led the Saints down the field for a stunning, last-minute touchdown and a 16-13 victory.

The crowd went wild. Brees, like he did following the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV win, hoisted the trophy. He and his teammate Jimmy Graham, along with New York Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow, were Madden Bowl champions, having outplayed Griffin and his squad in a friendly yet competitive video game on Xbox 360.

"We actually beat him on a last-second touchdown to Lance Moore," Brees said of the video game contest. "We were the Saints. I can't remember who they were, but that was fun. It was the first time I met him. I congratulated him on the Heisman. Obviously, that was before the draft. We didn't know he'd be picked up by the Redskins and we'd be opening up against him."

When the two meet again Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the outcome likely will have a far greater impact on their football season.

Griffin, the No. 2 overall pick of the Washington Redskins, will make his NFL debut against Brees, the NFL record holder in single-season passing yards and completion percentage.

Aside from their meeting in February for the Super Bowl event in Indianapolis, the two have not had very many encounters.

But Brees, who played high school football in Austin about 75 miles from Griffin's hometown of Copperas Cove, said he is quite aware of Griffin's talents and exploits at nearby Baylor in Waco.

"His talent and athletic ability is phenomenal," Brees said. "I like the guy because he's a Texas quarterback and we stick together. I admired him from afar in his college career knowing that he's a homegrown Texas boy. I think he carries himself with a lot of confidence."

"You figure it's only a matter of time before he takes this league by storm," Brees added in a conference call Wednesday with Washington-area reporters. "I just hope it doesn't happen on Sunday."

Griffin said he hasn't gotten a chance to get to know Brees well yet.

"I know Drew's a Texas guy who also wanted to go to Baylor, but Baylor didn't offer him a scholarship and he ended up going to Purdue," Griffin said. "Aside from that all I know is what I know as a fan of the game, just watching him play, going out there and playing with a chip on his shoulder and doing things of that nature. But other than that we really haven't talked that much and I definitely wish him the best."

Washington Coach Mike Shanahan said he'd love it if Griffin emerged as a perennial Pro Bowl player like Brees, the Super Bowl XLIV MVP.

One of the reasons the Redskins spent such a high draft pick on Griffin, who accounted for 4,952 yards and 47 touchdowns last season on his way to becoming the first Heisman Trophy winner in Baylor history, was because they believe Griffin will be a future star in the NFL.

During the preseason, Griffin, whose parents are New Orleans natives and who expects as many as 50 relatives and friends at the Superdome for his debut, displayed flashes of his play-making ability.

He completed 20 of 31 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns without an interception for a 103.3 passer rating. Griffin, who doubled as an All-Big 12 track performer at Baylor, was quite elusive in the pocket and also rushed for 22 yards on four carries.

Despite all the hype surrounding Griffin, Shanahan said it's going to be important for the Redskins to build a solid supporting cast around Griffin, similar to the way the Saints did with Brees.

"Any time somebody starts with their quarterback, the first thing you do is try to give him a good system and a good supporting cast, I think very similar to the situation that Drew is in right now," Shanahan said. "Drew got a lot of experience when he was in San Diego and Sean (Payton) gave him a great system, a great supporting cast and he just took off. You are hoping you can do that for your quarterback in a good system. Any quarterback would love to be like Drew Brees."

But on Sunday Griffin won't just be trying to be like Brees, he'll be attempting to do what he couldn't do in February on the video game.

He'll be trying to beat one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history.

Griffin understands he can't do it alone, however.

"We believe in our defense," he said. "We've said it all along that we believe we can have a top defense in this league. By no means, do we say we're going to shut Drew Brees out to zero points. Of course we would love that. Besides from thinking about it, it's not my job to try to go out and match Drew Brees. He's a great quarterback. He's done great things for that city and he's an experienced quarterback, so he's going to come out there ready to go. It's just my job to lead my team.

"I won't have to play against Drew. That's our defense's job. It will definitely be a cool experience. I guess you could say that. It would be the same as saying that I got the opportunity to play against Peyton Manning or Brett Favre, because Drew's definitely a great quarterback and you can't take that from him. Nobody can. He's proven that time and time again."